The National tribune., 1887-04-07
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 70 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
WHY THEY WERE SHOT.
The Qacsslon Answered Concerning Capt. Sum
mere and Scrg't kOontz.

The Qacsslon Answered Concerning Capt. Sum
mers and Scrg't kOontz.
EDIroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: j think can
throw some lirht on the inquiry made by }. G..
D.. I3tu Pa. Cav, Why Were They Shoty" In
Nay ls65 cx Gov. Leicher, OF Virginia, was
wanted in Washington, and an order was sent
10 gen Turbert then in command at Minches-
Ter, to arrest and send ham on 10 Washington.
About 90 men were detailed from the 22d Ny.
Cav. and 9th VIVA. Cav, the writer IN charge
o. detail from the ped. and Lieut.. knight in
charge OF that from 9th, and all in command of
M,d. Moore. of Gen. Togbet's stan. We went
up the Valley IS far as stanton, when detail
from some troops stationed there went mp 10
Lexington and arrested the Ex-Governor, and
we escorted him down 10 Winchester, the Gov
ernor riding in an ambulance.
ON the way down the Valley j stopped az
Edinburg about 40 minutes, the detachment
moving on down the pike. Mhen started on
a galop TO oycrtakc them i met about half
way between Edinburg and Woodstock Con-
fedrrate soldier mounted. When directly OPP
p0sile me he reached down TO his bootleg aud
pulled out a revolver, pointed IL at my head
aud conn anded me 10 halt OF course pulled
up ny horse, but, at the same time, i whipped
out nay own revolver and when he saw me
grab for il said If j attempted to pull my re-
Volver he would shoot me on the spot. Out il
lie instantly dropped il aud caught me by the
shoulders with both hands and tried 10 pull
me % my horse. but j managed 60 cock my
revolver and fired under his arms, but on ac-
count of his pulling and shaking me, j missed
him. When fired my horse gave jump one
way aud his the other. lie still had firm
grip on me and we both fell 10 the ground In
~. fall ] dropped my revolver, i'm throwing
out my hands to break the fall. All this hap
pened in much less time than il takes TO write
It,
Then we had a tussle on the ground, each
trying TO get possession of one of the revOlyers,
but we both failed. La the squabhle we got of
some distance from them, and Il attempted TO
draw my saber, but he being much the stronger
] could not get tout of the scabbard. Then he
tried 10 throw me down the bank into the river,
which ran close to the pike but he failed.
Meantime five of iseomrades who had stopped
down the pike, hearing the report of my re-
Volvcr came up on n gallon, with drawn pistols.
One of them dismounted and struck at my head
several times with his revolver, hitting me
once on the nose, which made the blood flow FOL
the first time in defense OF my country.
Seeing six 10 one against me i asked them
what thcy wanted of me. They searched me
al over for another revolver, aud then made
me give up my pocketbook and spurs picked
mp my revolver. took my horse, saber and belts
aud of they went, leaving me 10 overtake The
detachment on foot. This man i had the lit
tie picnic" with was Serg't Koontz Eth Va
Cav, and Capt George Summers was one o.
the party.
Soon after this occurred Gen. Torbert issued
an order to have the six men arrested and shot
as an example, as many OF these returned sol
dicrs were going mp and down the Valley steal
ing horses and rObbing soldiers OF their money
and other yalUables whenever they could catcf
them alone, aud In some instances shooting
thom. This order was sent up 10 the command
ing officer at Mt. jackson, who detailed Capt
Lusk, Co. II, 22d N. Y. Cav, to execute it, III,
went over into Page Valley in the night, bu
only captured Capt Summers and Sergi
Koontz The other four made their escape q
the woodland j wish Capt. Summers anc
Serg't KOOntz had been fortunate. The
two men were brought back TO the Shenandoah
Valley and shot by q detail from Co. II, 22d
N. y. Cav, and buried near the pike. j did
not know at the time that post had been put
mp at the graves with the inscription given by
al. g. b." Capt. J.. ID. Lusk, or Second Lieut.
Lord, OF Co. III, pad n. Y. Cav, il living, could
give a more detailed description Of the capture
OF these men than ! have done. II remember
rightly they had no hearing or trial, but ac-
Enowledged they were the men who robbed
me, and have often thought since that il was
fortunate for me that i did not succeed in
shooting Sergt Koontz, as i probably would
have got the contents Of the revOlvers carried
by the five other men, who, as / learned after
ward had been drinking applejack in Wood.
stock. and were in just the right frame of mind
20 think one or more less Yankees would not
make any difference, if the war had closed and
peace been declared.-W. p. BROWN, First
Lieutenant, Co. ii, ed N. Y. Cav. Memphis
NY